National Council of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (NPCA) is disassociated from United Nations Department of Public Information

In keeping with the DPI policy to ensure that its active roster of affiliated NGOs maintain the level of interest and support which informed the initial acceptance of their applications, the following 48 NGOs were disassociated because they no longer meet the criteria for association: National Council of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (United States)

The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) has associated 25 more non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing the number of NGOs that work with the Department in the area of communications and information outreach to 1,558. The Department, together with the Economic and Social Council, is a key focal point in the United Nations Secretariat for NGOs that wish to work with the Organization.

The DPI Committee on NGOs held the second of its two annual meetings on 12 December. It noted that the newly associated NGOs represented five different regions of the world -- Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North America. All of them conform to the principles of the United Nations Charter and fulfil the DPI criteria of association. They all operate solely on a not-for-profit basis and are involved in United Nations-related work.

Raymond Sommereyns, Chair of the Committee and Director of the Outreach Division, stated that "DPI also expects that these organizations have both the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes with their constituencies, thereby building knowledge of and support for the United Nations at the grass-roots level, as well as communicating their own ideas and concerns to the Organization".

The 25 newly associated NGOs are advocates for an array of issues, ranging from human rights, the drive against HIV/AIDS, democratic values, sustainable development and respect for the environment, peace education and gender equality, to humanitarian rescue service, support for underprivileged children, disarmament and humanitarian support of prisoners.

They include 12 from developing regions. The Abutia Youth Association (AYA), Ghana, seeks to provide leadership direction and guidance towards the development of rural poor communities, in order to eradicate poverty, disease and HIV/AIDS. The All India Human Rights Association (AIHRA), with headquarters in New Delhi, has worked in spreading social awareness and protecting human rights of all society for 16 years. The Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW), Yemen, presents a distinguished charitable and humanitarian model in social development and poverty alleviation. The Geriatric Care Foundation, Pakistan, commits to improve the health and well-being of all older persons in Pakistan. The Organization of Filipino Performers (OPM), Philippines, is working on partnerships with United Nations agencies and offices to promote the Millennium Development Goals through music.

Thirteen of the approved NGOs are based in developed regions. The Aviations Sans Frontières (ASF), France, has provided humanitarian services to areas affected by disasters in the developing countries for more than 25 years. The International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), United Kingdom, is the global network of civil society organizations working to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. The International Gender Organization (Gender Watchers), United States, advocates for social awareness and education to eliminate social injustices imposed upon women and children. ZAKA Rescue and Recovery, Israel, is devoted to save lives by providing emergency rescue services globally.

Following are the organizations newly associated with the DPI, listed alphabetically by region:

North America: Drew University ( USA), International Gender Organization ( United States), The Light Millennium ( United States), Make-A-Wish Foundation International ( United States).

Among the approved organizations were five NGOs that also have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council: Aviations sans Frontières (France), Charitable Society for Social Welfare ( Yemen), Foundation for Subjective Experience and Research ( Germany), Guild of Service ( India), UN Watch ( Switzerland).

In keeping with the DPI policy to ensure that its active roster of affiliated NGOs maintain the level of interest and support which informed the initial acceptance of their applications, the following 48 NGOs were disassociated because they no longer meet the criteria for association: Balkan-Ji-Bari International (India), Center for International Cooperation (United States), Comision Para la Defensa de Los Derechos Humanos en Centroamerica (Costa Rica), Council on Economic Priorities (United States), European Confederation of Woodworking Industries (Belgium), European Container Manufacturers' Committee (Belgium), Foundation NGO Ecology and Life (Norway), Four Directions Council (Canada), Global Committee of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (United States), Histophila (Belgium), Institut International de Formation et de Lutte Contre les Drogues (France), Instituto Peruano de Polemologia (Peru), International Center of Social Gerontology (France), International Chamber of Shipping (United Kingdom), International Commission of Health Professionals (Switzerland), International Community Education Association (United States), International Data Exchange Association (Belgium), International Federation of Consulting Engineers (Switzerland), International Federation of Purchasing and Materials Management (Netherlands), International Organization of Good Templars (United Kingdom), International Senior Citizens Association (United States), La Terre Verte Ltd. (United States), Lanka Mahila Samiti (Sri Lanka), Lawyers Alliance For World Security (United States), Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (United States), Ligue Marocaine de Protection de l'Enfance (Morocco), Literacy Volunteers of New York City, Inc. (United States), Mouvement Burkinabe de Lutte Contre le Racisme, l'Apartheid et pour l'Amitie entre les Peuples (Burkina Faso), National Association of Colored Women's Club (United States), National Audubon Society, Inc. (United States), National Council of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (United States), National Council of YMCAs of Japan (Switzerland), National Jewish Welfare Board (United States), National US/Arab Chamber of Commerce (United States), New Thinking Institute (Russia), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (Nigeria), Nigerian International Association of Democratic Lawyers (Nigeria), Organizacion de la Television Iberoamericana (Mexico), Ovum Pacis Womens' International Peace University (United States), Pace-UK International Affairs (United Kingdom), Parliamentary Association for Euro-Arab Cooperation (Belgium), Pensee et Chantiers (Morocco), Philippine Medical Association (Philippines), Polish Peace Coalition (Poland), Project Against Apartheid (United States), Rainbow Lobby (United States), Refugee Policy Group (United States), World Association for Educational Research (Belgium).

For further information, please contact the DPI/NGO Section, tel.: 212 963-6842; e-mail: dpi@un.org. The Directory of NGOs associated with the DPI is also available on the DPI/NGO website: www.un.org/dpi/ngosection.

When this story was posted in December 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in dangerWhen the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

PC establishes awards for top VolunteersGaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

Peace Corps at highest Census in 30 yearsCongratulations to the Peace Corps for the highest number of volunteers in 30 years with 7,810 volunteers serving in 71 posts across the globe. Of course, the President's proposal to double the Peace Corps to 15,000 volunteers made in his State of the Union Address in 2002 is now a long forgotten dream. With deficits in federal spending stretching far off into the future, any substantive increase in the number of volunteers will have to wait for new approaches to funding and for a new administration. Choose your candidate and start working for him or her now.

'Celebration of Service' a major successThe Peace Corps Fund's 'Celebration of Service' on September 29 in New York City was a major success raising approximately $100,000 for third goal activities. In the photo are Maureen Orth (Colombia); John Coyne (Ethiopia) Co-founder of the Peace Corps Fund; Caroline Kennedy; Barbara Anne Ferris (Morocco) Co-founder; Former Senator Harris Wofford, member of the Advisory Board. Read the story here.

PC apologizes for the "Kasama incident"The District Commissioner for the Kasama District in Zambia issued a statement banning Peace Corps activities for ‘grave’ social misconduct and unruly behavior for an incident that occurred on September 24 involving 13 PCVs. Peace Corps said that some of the information put out about the incident was "inflammatory and false." On October 12, Country Director Davy Morris met with community leaders and apologized for the incident. All PCVs involved have been reprimanded, three are returning home, and a ban in the district has since been lifted.

The Peace Corps LibraryPeace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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Story Source: Nieuwsbank

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; United Nations; NGO's; NPCA

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